German Red Prince

“We heard everything.”

"..."

"Don't believe me, I'm just making this up."

"We understand."

Hearing this tone, Fred felt like crying. He didn't want to end up like Thorne, getting a nickname for no reason.

"Let's get down to business. Now that I'm safe for the time being, we can move on to the next step of the operation."

“Captain Fred, we need to know something about the mayor of Darmstadt. It seems that the Unity German Party also has some informants and people here. We need more information.”

"learn."

Fred breathed a sigh of relief and began to survey the room. The equipment Thorne had given him included a ring with enough potions to keep the person on the bed awake for a while.

This was a closed room, and Fred had already locked the door, making it impossible to open from the outside. Clearly, he couldn't go out now; there were several burly men waiting for him outside.

"It looks like you can walk up there?"

Fred looked up and saw what looked like a panel that could be opened. He grabbed a chair, stood on it, and opened the panel.

"I didn't expect there to be a passage here." He slowly crawled out and escaped the room.

Fred returned to the hall and put his mask back on. Because he had changed his clothes, no one paid attention to him. But actually, it wouldn't have mattered if he hadn't changed; everyone here was busy having fun, so who would notice him?

He hid in the crowd and saw the mayor in the distance indulging in debauchery.

"Target spotted," Fred reported, continuing to observe from a distance.

A man walked up to the mayor, who was enjoying himself, and patted him on the shoulder. He whispered something in the mayor's ear, and the mayor immediately stood up, dressed, and hurriedly went inside.

Fred knew something was up when he saw him leave; those must be the kinds of information he had come to gather.

"Sir, would you like a drink?" a woman approached Fred and invited him.

"No need, ma'am."

Fred waved his hand and quietly followed the mayor inside.

Chapter Sixty-One: The Prince of Beiping

"Are you sure you want to go to Germany?" the middle-aged man sitting in the main seat asked.

He was dressed in a black long robe and mandarin jacket, with a jade ring on his finger, and his face was serious and solemn.

His eyes were bright and piercing, and his hair was neatly combed, making him look very serious, but there was also a hint of kindness between his brows.

At this moment, he sat quietly in the main seat in the center of the hall, with a jade pendant hanging from his waist. On it was a giant dragon with bared fangs and claws, which looked very majestic. It was a gift from His Majesty the Emperor.

His early life was legendary. From a young cart puller to the richest man in Beiping, he is now known as the "King of Beiping"—Pan Renbin.

Everyone in the hall stood respectfully on both sides, not daring to speak, and even their breathing was extremely soft, not daring to exhale.

This middle-aged man is now a well-known figure throughout Beiping (Beijing), with connections in both the legitimate and underworld circles. He practically monopolizes the business of the Qing Dynasty's carriage inns, and even Premier Wu Peifu has to give him face.

He was also a famous entrepreneur in the Qing Dynasty, and you could see the influence of Pan's Industrial in almost every large factory throughout the country.

Pan's Industry, one of the five major industrial manufacturing enterprises in the Qing Dynasty, is the only factory in the Qing Dynasty with high-end machine tool production capabilities that has not received any foreign intervention or "assistance". It is also the only industrial manufacturing enterprise among them that is privately owned.

Its production capacity accounted for three-tenths of the entire industrial capacity of the Qing Dynasty, and it held an absolute position in the economic field of the Qing Dynasty. It is said that one out of every twenty rifles in the Qing Dynasty was manufactured by the Pan Family Arsenal, which made the influence of the Pan Family Industry in the Qing Dynasty unmatched.

The Prince of Beiping, sitting in a mahogany chair, looked helplessly at the young man standing below. The young man stood there casually, grinning and acting nonchalant.

Pan Renbin had a headache. The reason he was able to become the Prince of Beiping and be treated with utmost respect by everyone was because his eldest son, Pan Wenhua, was the supreme commander of the Qing Dynasty's Northern Army.

Zhang Zuolin, the "King of Northeast China," was backed by the Japanese, which was irreconcilable with the Qing Dynasty, which was supported by Germany. Therefore, for safety reasons, the capital of the Qing Dynasty was moved to Xi'an.

Beiping is now facing the threat of the entire Northeast Army, and the pressure is enormous. However, this pressure also presents an opportunity. Pan Wenhua now has 50,000 elite troops under his command, and the Pan family's industries are fully supporting the Northern Army. Therefore, the equipment level of this army is first-class. Anyone who wants to touch them should think twice before acting.

"Ugh."

Pan Renbin rubbed his forehead and sighed. His eldest son, Pan Wenhua, was the commander of the Northern Army; his second son, Pan Chengjie, was the director of the Political Affairs Department of the Executive Yuan of the Qing Dynasty; and his third son, Pan Hengshan, was the president of Hengshan Bank.

This youngest son, Pan Xiaoyu, never does anything productive. Although he's incredibly bright and has a natural talent for studying, his mother spoils him too much and neglects to discipline him, so he's very rebellious and mischievous. But thankfully, he's not inherently bad.

"Father, I want to go to Germany. I want to study in Germany and broaden my horizons abroad," Pan Xiaoyu said earnestly to Pan Renbin above him, patting his chest.

"I want to open my eyes to the world, I want to study abroad, I've decided to start anew!"

Hearing Pan Xiaoyu's words, Pan Renbin couldn't help but laugh.

"You little brat, how many times have you told me to turn over a new leaf?"

Pan Renbin patted his long gown and fiddled with the jade ring on his hand, clearly not believing what he was saying.

“Really, Father, believe me!” Pan Xiaoyu stepped forward. “Really, I have truly repented.”

Pan Xiaoyu became a little anxious, "Father, I really repent, I've even learned German!"

He stepped forward and started showing off, rattling off a whole bunch of German, which was the result of his recent studies.

“Father! I want to go abroad. The world is so big, I want to go out and see it, to broaden my horizons. I suddenly realized that I had been so foolish before, I had been wasting my time. I want to make a change! I deserve a brand new life!”

After listening to Pan Xiaoyu's words, Pan Renbin remained silent for a while, then burst into laughter.

"Oh, so you even went to learn German. Looks like you did some research."

Pan Renbin walked down and patted Pan Xiaoyu on the shoulder. "Good! A prodigal son who returns is more precious than gold. I'll trust you one more time. Go ahead and do your best. I support you!"

"Really? Thank you, Father!" Pan Xiaoyu stepped forward and hugged Pan Renbin, then happily ran back to pack her luggage.

"Young master, bring more clothes, and don't forget this or that." A butler was helping him pack his luggage, not daring to leave anything out, for fear of missing something.

"Old Zhang, take less, take less, that's enough." Pan Xiaoyu took the luggage and was about to walk outside.

"Young Master, are you alright on your own? Young Master, please be careful," Old Zhang kept reminding him from behind.

He was really worried about Pan Xiaoyu going to Europe alone. He had been taking care of Pan Xiaoyu since he was a child, and now that the young master was leaving, alone, he was extremely worried.

"It's okay, it's okay, I'll take good care of myself. You stay home and take care of yourself. I'm leaving now."

Pan Xiaoyu waved to Lao Zhang, turned around and walked towards the door, getting into the large truck at the entrance.

"Young Master, please take good care of yourself. You must be well. Will we ever meet again, Young Master? Take good care of yourself over there. If you get cold, wear more clothes. If you're not feeling well, remember to see a doctor. Young Master, you must be happy there, okay? Be happy. You won't be able to see me anymore. It's okay, you must be happy. Young Master! Young Master! Young Master, how can I live without you! Young Master, Young Master, Young Master, Young Master, please take me with you, Young Master!"

Old Zhang chased after the car, shouting with snot and tears streaming down his face, but Pan Xiaoyu didn't hear him at all; he was already bursting with excitement.

"Father, what are you doing here?" Pan Xiaoyu, who was about to board the ship, saw Pan Renbin waiting for him there.

"I've come to see you off." Pan Renbin smiled. "You've grown up." Pan Renbin looked carefully at the child in front of him, as if he wanted to engrave his face into his mind.

"Let's go, don't forget us when you get there." Pan Renbin let go of Pan Xiaoyu and waved goodbye to him.

"Goodbye, Father!" Pan Xiaoyu waved to his parents as he boarded the ship. He was no longer a child and didn't need anyone's company. The cruise ship gradually sailed away from the harbor and slowly disappeared from everyone's sight.

Inside the cabin, Pan Xiaoyu, dressed in a brand-new white shirt and black trousers, stood at the bow of the ship, quietly watching as he drifted further and further away from home.

"Whoosh! I'm free!" he suddenly cheered. Did you think he was genuinely repentant? Of course not.

He only heard female students say while he was hanging out on the street that people who had studied abroad were truly impressive, and their eyes would sparkle when they talked about those people.

How could he, the young master of Beiping, possibly stand it? As a seasoned lover, he couldn't allow himself to have any shortcomings in his womanizing skills, so he made the decisive decision to study abroad to enhance his resume, and if he was going to study abroad, he wanted to study at the best!

Forget America and Japan, he'll go to Germany! That most powerful country in the world is more befitting of his status as a young master.

When he comes back, Harvard, Yale, Stanford, Kyoto, Tokyo and Waseda Universities will all line up behind him. He's going to study at the German Imperial University. With that kind of prestige, who will dare to show off in front of him then?

He really put in a lot of effort to study abroad, learning German. He was very talented and learned quickly, and had no problem with basic communication. As a young master from a large family, it was normal for him to be able to master several foreign languages.

Looking out at the vast sea, Pan Xiaoyu shouted from the bow of the ship, "Germany! Here I come!"

"Master, the ship has left, let's go back too," said the butler.

"Let's go." Pan Renbin sighed and walked back, leaning on his cane.

"Master, has the young master truly repented this time?" the butler asked again.

"Haha, how is that possible?"

Pan Renbin shook his head. He knew his child best. How could Pan Xiaoyu possibly repent in his current state? However, he had actually learned German, which Pan Renbin hadn't expected. It seemed he had really put in some effort.

As for why he sent him away even though he knew he hadn't repented, Pan Renbin had his own reasons.

Hmph, would the Qing Dynasty let him, the Prince of Beiping, go? Holding military power in the north, what if he joins forces with Zhang Zuolin in the Northeast and imitates Wu Sangui's old ways, creating a replica of the Manchu conquest of China? That would be interesting. The court is polite to them on the surface, but who knows what kind of trouble they might cause behind their backs?

Recently, Pan Renbin has been having nightmares every night, and all the dreams he has are about bad things. This makes him feel uneasy and he always feels that something bad is going to happen.

The imperial court has been eyeing their family for a long time, and they have been trying to seize Pan's industries for themselves. Recently, the revolutionaries have been making a lot of noise, and the pressure on the southern border has suddenly increased. A large amount of weapons and ammunition need to be sent to the front line. Although Pan Renbin has also sent a lot of weapons to the front line, wouldn't it be better to annex them?

Furthermore, with most of the imperial army stationed in the south, who in the north would be on guard against Pan Renbin, the Prince of Beiping?

The imperial court is currently keeping an eye on Zhang Zuolin, so it hasn't taken any action yet. But who knows when it might turn on him? A tall tree catches the wind, and with Pan Renbin's vast fortune, countless people are eyeing it.

Wu Peifu, the prime minister and the actual ruler of the Qing Dynasty, was a warlord. He was all smiles and polite on the surface, and he would send gifts to Beiping every year, but who knew what he was thinking behind the scenes?

If Wu Peifu could swallow up Pan Renbin's power, would he still be restrained by Puyi, that puppet emperor? Wu Peifu had long disliked this toy that the Germans had put on the throne. If he could swallow up Pan Renbin, would he still put up with the Germans' wrath?

In short, countless eyes were watching his family, and Pan Renbin felt increasingly powerless. He didn't know when an accident would happen, so he could only make plans before it did.

Pan Xiaoyu is an innocent child; he shouldn't be dragged into this. So let him go to Germany if he wants, go far away, and preferably never come back. Let these people handle whatever happens next.

"Father."

When Pan Renbin returned home, he found that his second son had come back and was waiting for him.

"Chengjie? Why are you back?"

“Father, I was on official business and came back to visit while I was at it.” Pan Chengjie bowed to his father.

"Furthermore, Father, Xi'an requests your presence."

"Xi'an?" Pan Renbin murmured to himself.

"Is it Puyi, or that Wu Peifu?"

"My father is Wu Peifu."

"Hmph, interesting." Pan Renbin smiled. What was bound to happen would happen eventually. Now that Pan Xiaoyu was gone, he had no more worries.

"The Prime Minister has invited me, so it seems I have no choice but to go." He straightened his clothes. "When are you leaving?"

"Let's set off immediately."

"Is this a bit worrying? The Northern Expeditionary Army is already on the verge of collapse after putting in so much effort?" Pan Renbin walked into the inner room on his own. "Tell your elder brother to be careful lately, and also tell the army to be on high alert, to prevent that guy from the north from coming, and to also be careful of our own people."

“Yes, Father.” Pan Chengjie nodded.

"Looks like there's no way to avoid it." Pan Renbin changed his clothes and went outside.

He's been through countless dangers, so what's one more time?

Chapter Sixty-Two: The International Brigades' Invitation

"Chairman, news has arrived from Guangdong." The messenger walked in from outside, carrying a telegram.

"Oh? There's news?" The young man put down his brush, blew on the ink on the paper, and placed the brush on the brush holder.

"The Guangdong Revolutionary Government hasn't contacted us for quite some time. What's going on this time?" Chairman Mao chuckled as he took the telegram and slowly began to read it.

"Comintern International Brigades Headquarters: "

After a long period of investigation by the Comintern's special envoy, it has been determined that the Hunan Revolutionary Workers' and Peasants' Red Army has the corresponding strength and armed forces to establish an International Brigades branch. Upon the recommendation of the special envoy, we formally invite the Hunan Revolutionary Workers' and Peasants' Red Army to join the International Brigades Headquarters and permit them to establish an International Brigades branch to fight for the liberation of all mankind and the freedom of the world's people. Long live the Comintern! Long live the great unity of the world's people!

Commander-in-Chief of the International Brigades: Henri Roll Tangui

Looking at the contents of the telegram, Chairman Mao fell into deep thought. Why did he suddenly think of them? Was it a telegram from the Comintern?

The International Brigades invited them to join the organization and establish an International Brigades branch. He couldn't make that decision on his own. After all, although he was now the General Committee member in Hunan and could take full charge of local affairs, he was only in charge of local matters and domestic affairs. Establishing an International Brigades branch meant that they would definitely be fighting all over the world in the future, which would be an international matter. He couldn't make a decision on his own without the approval of the central government.

"What did the central government say?"

"Reporting to the Chairman, the Central Committee has agreed; otherwise, they wouldn't have sent this telegram." The communications officer smiled and took out another telegram.

"Chairman, this is the Central Committee's instruction, approving the establishment of the International Brigade branch, which will be under your responsibility."

"Since the Central Committee has given its approval, what objection could I possibly have?" The Chairman smiled. "By establishing an International Brigades branch, we can also contribute to the world revolution. People have come from afar to support our revolution and resist the oppression of feudalism and imperialism. We should also help the revolutionary forces in other countries to liberate their people. That's what we call the great unity of all mankind!"

Chairman Mao placed the telegram on the side of the table and said, "Go and inform them that we need to hold a meeting later to discuss the establishment of the International Brigade branch."

"Yes, sir!" The communications officer saluted and left the room.

"Something's wrong in Guangzhou." Chairman Mao's expression turned serious again. The telegram from the Central Committee had mentioned the situation in Guangzhou, revealing something amiss, which made the Chairman uneasy; he had a feeling something was about to happen.